Paramedic science

Paramedic science

The School of Paramedic Science at Kingston and St George’s aims to support the development of the paramedic profession in the UK and overseas by bringing together the latest knowledge from education, research and practice. We specialise in delivering employer-led education and training using the latest learning facilities and technologies, and also serving as a focus point for research and international development projects.

Why choose us?

The Guardian University Guide 2015 ranks Kingston and St George’s as top in London for Paramedic science

We scored 100 per cent student satisfaction in the 2014 National Student Survey

You will gain 1800 hours placement experience, 1125 of which will be with the London Ambulance Service (LAS), one of the busiest ambulance services in the world. This means the course offers extensive exposure to a range of paramedic scenarios

You will learn from an experienced team including operational paramedics who assist in skills practice

We have a dedicated anaesthetist whose experience and expert knowledge is invaluable for paramedic education

You will have access to a wide range of health care specialists including nurse consultants, nurse practitioners and doctors in immunology, oncology, paediatrics, obstetrics, end of life medicine and mental health

St George’s, University of London is the only UK university to share its campus with a hospital; the St George’s Healthcare Universities NHS Trust is one of the largest teaching hospitals in the country and serves a diverse community

Employment prospects

95 per cent of students obtain immediate employment at the London Ambulance Service and the remaining students gain employment within six months of qualifying.

Student benefits

Placements for students in the busiest ambulance trust in the UK.

A very experienced team to support and develop students throughout the programme of study.

We have a dedicated Student Support Officer to ensure student wellbeing; they are the first point of contact for students who have personal problems, need advice or are seeking information about University services.

Learning tools and facilities

Our purpose-built home environment allows students to simulate care and response to emergency calls with actors playing the roles of patients.

We use state-of-the-art equipment in our skills labs at St George’s, University of London, including realistic simulation manikins which are very realistic in their presentation of clinical conditions.

A purpose-built paramedic simulation suite at St George’s, University of London. It consists of two life size ambulance saloons and home area consisting of three dedicated home spaces – a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom with appropriate furniture and fixtures. These facilities are monitored under ‘live’ camera surveillance, enabling training staff to provide relevant feedback to improve skills and student confidence.

A new 3D digital ‘immersion room’ with high fidelity sound and projectable walls that can be changed to create the ambient environment of any scenario students may encounter to perform a rescue. This can include a dog attack at a residential home, a nightclub, a railway station or a car collision.

You will have access to extensive reading resources including the Journal of Paramedic Practice.

Practice placements

We organise placements with the London Ambulance Service, and you will be attached to local health departments and trusts for additional exposure. We also work with the South East Coast Ambulance Service and have close links with several NHS trusts including:

Our partnership with London and South East Coast Ambulance Service ensures our courses are relevant to paramedic practice. We have a link lecturer from each trust, responsible for the smooth operation and integration of ambulance trust requirements and operational changes

Paramedic science news

In 2009, the Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA) worked with Kingston and St George’s Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education to begin developing a small group of ambulance staff to undergo paramedic training and education, culminating in the first group of paramedics to graduate and work in Gibraltar.

The Centre for Paramedic Science has announced plans to utilise new research, simulation techniques and technology to streamline and share learning. New initiatives include: a brand new simulation suite which will allow students to practice in realistic home environments; two new study programmes, one for new beginners and a ‘top-up’ for professionals; research on the challenges faced by paramedics when assisting patients with dementia and a small scale project exploring the accuracy of ambulance despatch decisions made by NHS 111 clinical advisors.